Airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system and a method for the production of an airbag module

Abstract

An airbag arrangement includes an airbag with at least one inflatable chamber and a first opening; and a cover that at least partially covers the first opening of the airbag and that comprises a second opening. The first and second openings are designed such that the chamber of the airbag is accessible through the first and second openings. The first opening is designed in a first layer of an airbag material and the second opening is designed in a second layer of an airbag material. At least one part projects into the airbag through the first and the second opening, whereby the first and the second layer are restrained by the part projecting into the airbag in the area of the openings such that a section of the rim of the first and a section of the rim of the second opening rest closely against the part.

1. An airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:
 an airbag that comprises at least one inflatable chamber and at least one first opening; 
 a cover that at least partially covers the first opening of the airbag and that comprises at least one second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are arranged such that the chamber of the airbag is accessible through the first opening and the second opening, wherein the first opening is designed in a first layer of a first airbag material and the second opening is designed in a second layer of a second airbag material; and 
 at least one part which projects into the airbag through the first opening and the second opening such that the first layer and the second layer are restrained by the part projecting into the airbag in an area of the first and second openings such that a section of a rim of the first opening and a section of a rim of the second opening rest closely against the part, 
 wherein the first opening has a non-overlapping portion that does not overlap with the second opening and the second opening has a non-overlapping portion that does not overlap with the first opening, and wherein the first opening and the second opening overlap each other at least in sections. 
 
     
     
       2. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are arranged such that gas can flow out of the chamber of the airbag through the first and second openings. 
     
     
       3. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber of the airbag is delimited by the first airbag material. 
     
     
       4. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover is arranged on a side of the first airbag material facing away from the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
       5. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover is arranged on a side of the first airbag material facing towards the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
       6. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is designed of the second airbag material. 
     
     
       7. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are arranged such that the chamber of the airbag is accessible from outside of the airbag. 
     
     
       8. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first airbag material and/or the second airbag material is a stretchable material such that the size of the first opening and/or the second opening depend on an internal pressure of the airbag. 
     
     
       9. The airbag arrangement according  claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening intersect. 
     
     
       10. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the airbag has multiple layers and at least one of the first and second openings is formed in at least two of the multiple layers. 
     
     
       11. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover has multiple layers and the second opening is formed in at least two of the multiple layers. 
     
     
       12. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the first airbag material is manufactured separately from a third airbag material that forms a portion of the airbag which is connected to the first airbag material. 
     
     
       13. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the part is a gas generator which at least projects in sections into the airbag. 
     
     
       14. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the part is a fixing element configured to fix the airbag to a vehicle structure. 
     
     
       15. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the part is an electrical wire which is connected to a further part inside of the airbag. 
     
     
       16. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein a flap adjoins to the first opening or the second opening which is so flexible that the first opening or the second opening can be at least partially released by bending the flap. 
     
     
       17. A method for producing an airbag module using an airbag arrangement according to  claim 1  such that the cover is arranged in an inside of the chamber of the airbag, comprising:
 passing a first end of a gas generator through the first opening arranged in the first airbag material and through the second opening provided in the cover such that the gas generator takes a first position, such that, in the first position, the first end projects into the chamber of the airbag and is further away from the first opening than from the second opening and a second end of the gas generator opposing the first end is outside of the airbag; and 
 turning the gas generator into a second position in which the first end is closer to the first opening than to the second opening. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the turning of the gas generator is carried out at about 180°. 
     
     
       19. The airbag arrangement according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cover is connected to the airbag via a circumferential seam that extends along a complete circumference of the cover. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for producing an airbag module using an airbag arrangement, the airbag arrangement comprising an airbag that comprises at least one inflatable chamber and at least one first opening; a cover that at least partially covers the first opening of the airbag and that comprises at least one second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are arranged such that the chamber of the airbag is accessible through the first opening and the second opening, wherein the first opening is designed in a first layer of a first airbag material and the second opening is designed in a second layer of a second airbag material; and at least one part which projects into the airbag through the first opening and the second opening such that the first layer and the second layer are restrained by the part projecting into the airbag in an area of the first and second openings such that a section of a rim of the first opening and a section of a rim of the second opening rest closely against the part, the cover being arranged in an inside of the chamber of the airbag, comprising:
 passing a first end of a gas generator through the first opening arranged in the first airbag material and through the second opening provided in the cover such that the gas generator takes a first position, such that, in the first position, the first end projects into the chamber of the airbag and is further away from the first opening than from the second opening and a second end of the gas generator opposing the first end is outside of the airbag; and 
 turning the gas generator into a second position in which the first end is closer to the first opening than to the second opening. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the turning of the gas generator is carried out at about 180°.